MEDIA DIGEST, 19 SEPTEMBER: fair trade, waste and drugs mules

Third Sector's round-up of todays charity-related news, from soaring Fairtrade Foundation sales figures, to a charity's call for action on food poverty and a jeweller's backing for Breast Cancer Awareness Week

Sales of Fairtrade Foundation goods up 55%New figures have shown that sales of products from the Fairtrade Foundation are soaring. Despite the credit crunch, the charity has seen an increase in sales of 55 per cent. Sales between April and June this year amounted to £176m, compared with £113m in the same period last year. Harriet Lamb, executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation, said: "This continuing uplift in sales is great news and shows the public is still taking Fairtrade to heart."See The Herald for full story

Environmental group calls for zero-tolerance on wasteFriends of the Earth has called for a ‘zero-waste' policy in order to reduce the amount being sent to landfill. A new report by the organisation outlines a variety of policy changes at European, national and local level that the organisation claims are needed to help boost recycling rates and, as the "ultimate goal", phase out residual waste.See letsrecycle.com for full story

Industry urged to help the food poorA charity has called on the Government to do more to alleviate food poverty by cutting down on the amount of food going to waste. Fareshare, which distributes food to projects helping the poor and homeless, said 58 per cent of people that used its services admitted to going at least a day without a meal.See bbc.co.uk for full story

More female drug mules recruited, charity claimsA growing number of young British women are being approached by drug cartels to act as drugs mules, according to Prisoners Abroad. Last week, two young women from Derby were caught in Jamaica trying to board a London-bound flight with £175,000 of cocaine sewn into their wigs. Thomas Lawson, deputy chief executive of Prisoners Abroad, said: "Half of the women we are in contact with are in prison on drug-smuggling charges."See thisisderbyshire.co.uk for full story

Jeweller backs Breast Cancer Awareness MonthHigh-street jeweller H Samuel has joined forces with Breakthrough Breast Cancer to launch a range of jewellery for October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The range will include pink watches, gifts and jewellery boxes. For each sale a 10 per cent donation will be made to the charity.See theopenpress.com for full story

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